ashiness

noun

ash·​i·​ness ˈa-shē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being ashy: such as

a

: a whitish or grayish appearance that resembles ashes

Kudos to the lighting technicians … who draw the eye to the work's fascinating play of textures: the bone-white ashiness of the dancers' skin and the crinkled, aged look of their costumes …

—Sarah Kaufman

For blondes specifically, [Anita] Rice suggests investing in a low-sulfate … shampoo. "Used weekly, this will keep unwanted brassy tones to a cooler level. If you feel like you need an extra kick of ashiness, leave the shampoo on for five minutes."

—Sonia Haria

b

African American English : the condition of having dry skin

Ashiness, at its core, colloquially means dry skin—which, along with having red blood, is a trait much of humanity shares at some point in our lives. On skin tones that are darker than a phenotypically pale-skinned white person, the higher contrast of the grayish-white patches and the surrounding area makes the condition more visible.

—Andrea Plaid

Some of the color change you're seeing can be attributed to the state of the skin. Ashiness is the outward sign, and dehydration is the offender.

—Crystal Martin

This time of the year all skin tones experience dullness from dryness or chapped skin but for deeper complexions, "ashiness" can be a major concern.

—Jamyra Perry

Word History

Etymology

ashy + -ness

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above